House repeatedly targeted in Laval: the shadow of Lebanese organized crime looms

A series of shootings and arsons on a Laval residence are believed to have originated in a murder in Lebanon involving the local mafia, unhappy that one of their leaders was the subject of an investigation there.

• Read also: Shooting in Laval: two 18-year-old suspects arrested

“The fact that he is wanted in Lebanon wastes money [à la mafia libanaise]the complaint caused him to lose money,” we can read in a report from the Sûreté du Québec, in connection with the events that occurred at a residence on rue des Nénuphars, in Laval.

For a little over a month, this house in the Sainte-Dorothée neighborhood has been the target at least eight times of criminals who wanted to burn the place down, in addition to shooting at the front of the house. When passing the Newspaper this Monday, crime scene technicians examined the scene, while a vehicle with a visible bullet hole was towed in order to undergo an assessment.

“It’s worrying because here, it’s a quiet neighborhood,” commented a neighbor who preferred not to identify herself for fear of reprisals.

Murder in Lebanon

According to our information, these criminal acts are part of an extortion attempt, linked to the murder in Lebanon of the owner’s brother.

“He was murdered by several firearm projectiles while he was working at his gas station,” indicate the SQ major crimes investigators in their report obtained by The newspaper.

The family of the deceased, who is collaborating with the authorities, filed a complaint in Lebanon, leading to the launch of a police investigation.

“Seven people are wanted, including Mohammad Ismail, known to be a leader of the Lebanese mafia according to the family [de l’homme tué]“, we can read in the report.

However, the Lebanese mafia has ramifications in Canada, and particularly in greater Montreal.

“In addition to operating a vehicle export network for years, members of Lebanese organized crime have been engaged in extortion and other violent crimes, including arson, since 2022,” according to police intelligence.

Targeted in Laval

And this is what the mafia allegedly did to the Laval family, with explicit and vulgar threats on social networks or even anonymous phone calls, so that they would withdraw their complaint.

At one point, their interlocutor even claimed to “have a link with the Hells Angels”.

Since then, the garage door of the residence has been set on fire twice in two days, attempted fires have taken place, windows have been smashed and two 18-year-olds, Adam Hamouchi and Bonyad Gulam Ali, have been caught to shoot at the residence.

“It is possible to believe that they were hired by Lebanese organized crime without the context being probably explained to them, […] simply in exchange for money,” we can read in the police report.

The investigation continues. Many people from the neighborhood met by The newspaper did not, however, hide their concerns, saying they hoped for rapid arrests.

– With Jonathan Tremblay

A SERIES OF VIOLENT EVENTS

• March 15: The garage door is on fire. The suspect films the whole thing and sends the video to the owners.
• April 7: A hooded individual appears in front of the house, with bottles of liquid, but after speaking on the phone, he turns back.
• Night of April 7 to 8: Windows of the home were smashed.
• April 8: An individual pours gasoline in front of the house, but then leaves the area.
• April 9: An individual pours gasoline in front of the house, but flees after being questioned by a witness. He was later arrested with incendiary material.
• April 13: Shots are fired at the home.

• April 16: A fire broke out in the home.

• April 29: A car in front of the residence was targeted by gunfire.